Quick protein sources... please help (I don't want to cook!)

paraguay99

I'm having trouble with getting some quick protein sources in my diet. I'm on the go a lot and just can't cook as I don't have the time. I like to eat ready made chicken you can get in supermarkets like dunnes or tesco, but this is processed obviously. it comes in packets and costs 3-4 euro... i think ballyfree do some of these if you know the ones im on about. I have been told this type of chicken is useless, processed garbage and I should avoid it.

You can also buy ready to eat turkey... again I've been told that this is processed and unsuitable. I noticed a lot of those packets of chicken/turkey do have a high sodium content. Am I right in thinking these types of chicken are all useless and damaging and should be avoided?

I can drink liquid egg whites but the odd time I have bought them (3.79 in dunnes) and when I go to drink it, it's clearly not in good condition and not safe to drink. Plus my local dunnes doesn't stock them all the time so they can be hard to get.

Canned tuna is another option and I do have that as well.

Any more options? Something I can just grab in a shop and eat straight away.

Improbable

In fairness, I don't know that much about them but have you thought about using protein shakes?

Or how about packets of peanuts? you can get the unsalted kind which has about 25g of protein per 100g.

Organic Greek yoghurt might also be an option.

Macha

If your problem is time in the morning or during the day, why not boil 6 eggs on Sunday night or roast/cook a few chicken breasts and keep them in the fridge?

You'll save yourself a lot of money by not buying the equivalent products in the supermarket and be able to afford better quality ingredients.

Do you have access to a fridge - at work, I presume?

Red Cortina

How's about smoked salmon? Or pre-cooked mackerel (sold in Dunnes anyway) or those prawns in brine or what about biltong/jerky? You can also buy other canned fish besides tuna, ie mackerel, sardines, salmon.

Also according to CalorieKing.com, 100g of peanuts has a whooping 567 calories. Good I suppose if you are on some kind of bulking phase...

brianthebard

paraguay99 wrote: »

I'm having trouble with getting some quick protein sources in my diet. I'm on the go a lot and just can't cook as I don't have the time. I like to eat ready made chicken you can get in supermarkets like dunnes or tesco, but this is processed obviously. it comes in packets and costs 3-4 euro... i think ballyfree do some of these if you know the ones im on about. I have been told this type of chicken is useless, processed garbage and I should avoid it.

You can also buy ready to eat turkey... again I've been told that this is processed and unsuitable. I noticed a lot of those packets of chicken/turkey do have a high sodium content. Am I right in thinking these types of chicken are all useless and damaging and should be avoided?

I don't think all of them are, you just need to learn to read the label. Some is just chicken breast and perhaps some salt and preservative, no better or worse than most foods. a better option for the money might be a rotisserie chicken from the deli counter in dunnes they're about the same price afaik and would have a lot more meat. Not sure what the fat content is though, if that is a concern.

Khannie

When lazy / in a hurry I get mine from:
Natural yoghurt
Mozzarella balls
Cottage cheese
Protein shake
Tinned tuna

paraguay99

A protein shake is a good call. I'm going to have to look into getting one. Can anyone recommend any good ones? Also, the fish options sound good too. The rotisserie chicken is a good idea but I'm not sure about the fat content myself. I'll have to read up on it. What about a cooked chicken in a dunnes/tesco? Is this a rotisserie chicken too, even if it's not on a stick? Maybe I'll have to ask how its cooked.

I don't have a fridge so an option of cooking and keeping it there is not there for me. I still believe I can get good quality protein from my meals on the go though.

WildBoots

paraguay99 wrote: »

I'm having trouble with getting some quick protein sources in my diet. I'm on the go a lot and just can't cook as I don't have the time. I like to eat ready made chicken you can get in supermarkets like dunnes or tesco, but this is processed obviously. it comes in packets and costs 3-4 euro... i think ballyfree do some of these if you know the ones im on about. I have been told this type of chicken is useless, processed garbage and I should avoid it.

You can also buy ready to eat turkey... again I've been told that this is processed and unsuitable. I noticed a lot of those packets of chicken/turkey do have a high sodium content. Am I right in thinking these types of chicken are all useless and damaging and should be avoided?

I can drink liquid egg whites but the odd time I have bought them (3.79 in dunnes) and when I go to drink it, it's clearly not in good condition and not safe to drink. Plus my local dunnes doesn't stock them all the time so they can be hard to get.

Canned tuna is another option and I do have that as well.

Any more options? Something I can just grab in a shop and eat straight away.

Try spirulina, loaded with lots of easily digestible protein.

http://www.spirulinasource.com/earthfoodch2a.html

Macha

paraguay99 wrote: »

A protein shake is a good call. I'm going to have to look into getting one. Can anyone recommend any good ones?

I use the chocolate & vanilla flavours of this one. YUM:

http://www.universalnutrition.ie/viewproduct/18

brianthebard

WildBoots wrote: »

Try spirulina, loaded with lots of easily digestible protein.

http://www.spirulinasource.com/earthfoodch2a.html

Its not a food, and you would have to take about half a tub a go to get a decent amount of protein.

WildBoots

brianthebard wrote: »

Its not a food, and you would have to take about half a tub a go to get a decent amount of protein.

Yes, it's a food. And no, you don't need to take about half a tub of it to get a decent amount of protein. I regularly take spirulina, what about yourself?

brianthebard

WildBoots wrote: »

Yes, it's a food.

How many calories are there in it?

And no, you don't need to take about half a tub of it to get a decent amount of protein. I regularly take spirulina, what about yourself?

How much do you need to take to get 25g of protein in a serving?

rubadub

WildBoots wrote: »

Try spirulina, loaded with lots of easily digestible protein.

http://www.spirulinasource.com/earthfoodch2a.html

Spirulina has the highest protein of any natural food (65%); far more than animal and fish flesh (15-25%), soybeans (35%), dried milk (35%), peanuts (25%), eggs (12%), grains (8-14%) or whole milk (3%)

Dried animal and fish would have more protein than this dried spirulina. Most of these "superfood" marketing scumbags refuse to compare like with like. I have seen dried goji berries compared to fresh berries & other fruits a few times too.

gavtron

paraguay99 wrote: »

A protein shake is a good call. I'm going to have to look into getting one. Can anyone recommend any good ones?

I get mine from myprotein.co.uk, this thread will tell you everything you need to know about supplements as well:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054989471

siochain

Cottage cheese is a good low fat source or you could try baked beans but rinse off the sauce as it contains a lot of sugar.

Aldi also do a range of pre-cooked mackerel and salmon fillets in different flavours. Can be high on the fat content which most of is the good stuff.

WildBoots

brianthebard wrote: »

How many calories are there in it?




How much do you need to take to get 25g of protein in a serving?

There's approx. 4 kcal/g but the O.P. wanted an alternative protein source, not a source of calories. In my opinion, something doesn't have to be high/dense in calories to be called "food" (e.g. 100g brocolli has approx. 30 calories).

The answer to your next question is a bit more complicated. Spirulina has approx. 0.65g protein per g, so you would need to consume 38.5g of spirulina to get 25g of protein. However the digestive absorption of each gram of protein in spirulina is four times greater than the same gram of protein in beef. Therefore, if you consumed just 10g of spirulina, you will get about 6g of protein that is the equivalent of about 25g of protein from other sources, such as beef. I hope this makes sense.

Captain Cesc

Fry a steak in 5 minutes

WildBoots

rubadub wrote: »

Dried animal and fish would have more protein than this dried spirulina. Most of these "superfood" marketing scumbags refuse to compare like with like. I have seen dried goji berries compared to fresh berries & other fruits a few times too.

100 g of dried spirulina has about 65g of protein, this is no secret. Fish contains about 15-20g protein per 100g. This is no secret and I don't know why you would think otherwise.

There are certain "superfoods" that are over-hyped and I'd agree that goji berries are one of these. The amount of nutrition you get for the amount of money you pay is nothing to write home about. There's nothing wrong with goji berries and they are quite good for you, it's just that you'd get more bang for your buck spending your money on something else. However, I wouldn't paint something like spirulina with the same brush. From personal experience, and that of others who take it at the right dose (most people take far too little), it is an extremely beneficial and nutritious food. And it's relatively cheap too, I buy mine in bulk and it works out at about 50 cent per day, 90% of the irish population probably spend that on crisps or chocolate everyday.

longhalloween

paraguay99 wrote: »

I'm having trouble with getting some quick protein sources in my diet. I'm on the go a lot and just can't cook as I don't have the time. I like to eat ready made chicken you can get in supermarkets like dunnes or tesco, but this is processed obviously. it comes in packets and costs 3-4 euro... i think ballyfree do some of these if you know the ones im on about. I have been told this type of chicken is useless, processed garbage and I should avoid it.

Any more options? Something I can just grab in a shop and eat straight away.

I dont think that chicken is a good idea. Pretty sure most of the stuff sold at deli counters comes from outside the EU.

Protein bars and snack foods can be bought from sport and fitness shops. I know theyre expensive but better than nothing.

paraguay99

taconnol wrote: »

I use the chocolate & vanilla flavours of this one. YUM:

http://www.universalnutrition.ie/viewproduct/18

Thanks... looks good. Is it possible to buy this in a shop instead of online? Also, do you take it with water or skim milk? Whats best?

paraguay99

WildBoots wrote: »

Try spirulina, loaded with lots of easily digestible protein.

http://www.spirulinasource.com/earthfoodch2a.html

Thanks I did a lot of research on spirulina. It was the first time I heard of it. Seems like an extremely good source and would be perfect for me, but on wiki (I don't believe everything I read on wiki!) I found this...

"Spirulina contains phenylalanine, which should be avoided by people who have the metabolic disorder phenylketonuria, where the body cannot metabolize this amino acid, and it builds up in the brain, causing damage.[12] Because spirulina is a dietary supplement, the United States Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the production and quality of the product. Although rare, cyanobacteria like Spirulina may contain toxins called microcystins, which accumulate in the liver and can potentially cause cancer or other liver diseases. Currently, no standard exists to regulate the safety of spirulina.[13]"